Poetry Slam

Youth speaks -- especially when the 16th Annual Teen Poetry
Slam's 500 semifinalists descend on the East Bay in a tournament-style
competition. Event organizer and San Francisco nonprofit Youth Speaks, which
launched the country's first teen poetry slam in 1997, is dedicated to creating
safe spaces for young folks to find, develop, and use their voices to effect
positive change. Poets perform for about three minutes and are judged on
quality of writing, poem content, and performance. All semifinals are free and
open to the public. At The New Parish (579 18th St., Oakland) on Friday, Apr.
20, at 6 p.m., and The David Brower Center (2150
Allston Way, Berkeley) on Saturday, Apr. 21, at 7 p.m. YouthSpeaks.org